Nonmucilage self-sealing envelope



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P. T. GRIFFIN nomwcxmea saw smuus ENVELOPE Filed April 28 1922 P'. T. GRIFFIN NONMUCILAGE' SELF SEALING ENVELOPE Eiled A pril 28-.

1922 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Patented Aug. 26, 1924..

UNlTEli) STATES PATENT"QFFICE.

NONMUGILAGE SELF-SEALING- ENVELOPE.

Application filed April 28, 1922.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, PETER T. GRIFFIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at V an Zandt, in the county of Whatcom and. State of il' ashington, have invented a new and useful Nonmucilage Self-Sealing Envelope, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to envelopes and more particularly to self sealing envelopes in which no mucilage is used.

The object of the invention is to provide an envelope having interengaging tongues and slits which, when engaged cannot be released without mutilating the envelope in such a way as to disclose the fact that it has been opened or tampered with.

Another object is to construct an envelope of this character which is formed from a single sheet of material and folded to provide an envelope of ordinary shape which when closed cannot be opened without its indicating the fact.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a plan view of the blank from which this envelope is constructed.

Fig. 2 is a plan view. showing one of the side flaps partially folded in the first step applied in forming the envelope.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the next step.

Fig. 4: shows the completed envelope with the side flaps in the act of being inserted for closing the envelope after the letter has been placed therein; and

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the sealed envelope ready for filing.

In the embodiment illustrated the envelope 1 constituting this invention is formed from a single sheet of paper and comprises a face or body member 2 preferably of rectangular configuration and having end flaps 3 and 4 provided with terminal extensions Serial No. 557,082.

are each equipped with laterally extending wings 7 and 8 respectively, said wings being provided with shoulders 7 and 8 respectively at their inner ends. The wings 7 and 8 of the respective flaps are folded longitudinally on the dotted lines shown in Fig. 1 to facilitate the insertion of the flap through slits in cooperating members presently to be described.

The body member 2 is also provided with side flaps 9 and 15. The flap 9 is cut transversely from its outer toward its inner edge, said out forming a V-shaped recess and providing twin members 10 and 10 which carry at their outer edges reduced extensions 11 having a laterally extending substantially triangular extension 12 at one side edge. These extensions 11 are folda-ble along the dotted lines shown at 13 and 13 to form when folded, arrow head locking tongues or heads 14, the triangular extension 12 being inserted through a slit 11 formed at the base of one end of member 11.

The side flap 15 is of a length greater than the width of the face member 2 being preferably double the width of said member, and is foldable transversely along the dotted line 18 and also along the line 19 when the envelope is made up. This flap 15 is provided at its free end with a lip 20 foldable along the dotted line 21 and preferably having its side edges inclined inwardly as shown at 20. The folding of the flap 15 along the dotted lines 18 and 19 provides superposed members 15", 17 and 17 and spaced slits 23 and 2e are formed along the dotted line 19 for a purpose presently to be described. A. transversely arranged slit 16 is formed in the member 15 of flap 15 midway the length thereof, and a similar slit 22 is formed in alinement with slit 16 extending across the members 17 and 17 intersecting the folding line 19 thereof.

In making up the envelope, the extensions 11 (see Fig. 1) of the side flap 9 are first folded along the lines 13 and 13 and the tongue 12 inserted through the slit 11 forming the triangular or arrow head locking members 1 1. The lip 20 is then folded inwardly along line 21 and the member 17 folded back on member 17 along the folding line 19, and then" along line 18. The flap 15 is then folded along line 2 over the rear face of member 2, and the locking heads or heads 5 and 5. These extensions 5 and 6 5 and 6 insertedthrough the registering slits 16 and 22 from the outer side inward. The heads 5 and 6 are turned inward after insertion through the slits and their wings spread out as shown in Fig. 3, with the lip 20 folded down over their outer edges, securely locking the parts of the envelope together. The parts being assembled. as above described provides a smooth unobstructed mail receiving pocket between the inner face of member 2 and the outer faces of heads 5 and'ti, while between the opposed faces of members 17 and 1'? pockets are formed which receive the head carrying members 10 and 10*, the heads 14 of which areinserted through the slits 23 and 24-. in the bottoms of said pockets, the pockets being separated by the heads 5 and 6 which are ontered through. the registering slits l6 and 22. Open pockets or keepers are formed between the flaps 3 and 4; and the outer face of the flap member 15 which are designed to receive the flap members 10 and 10 when the envelope is to be used for second class matter.

YVhen the wing carrying extensions 5 and 6 are inserted through the registering slits l6 and 22 in the superposed side flaps and said extensions turned inwardly, the wings at the sides thereof are opened so that the shoulders 7 and 8 at the inner ends will engage the walls of the slits and prevent the withdrawal of these flaps after being once inserted. An attempt to withdraw them will tear the wings and disclose the fact that such. attempt has been made.

After the end flaps have been inserted in the manner above described, the envelope will be ready to receive the letter or other mail which is entered through the open side of the envelope and then the flap 9 is tolded and the heads 14. carried thereby inserted through the slits 23 and 24 and locked against withdrawal.

Vfhen the envelope has been closed as above set forth, it. cannot be opened without tearing some of the interengaging parts thereof, which will immediately indicate that an attempt has been made to obtain access to its contents.

From the above description it will be ob- "vious that an envelope constructed as herein shown and described will require no mucilag'e to seal it and yet will effectively pro tect its contents. Being formed from a single sheet of paper, any number of these envelopes may be struck out in one operation, thereby greatly cheapening the cost of manufacture.

I olaimz-- l. A. non-mucilage self-sealing envelope comprising a body having end and side flaps, said end flaps having heads at their outer ends equipped with side wings, one of said side flaps having a locking head, the other being entended and foldable to form superposed. layers, said layers having registering transversely extending slits, to receive the winged heads of said end flaps, a pocket formed between said layers and having a slit in its bottom to receive the head of the other side flap and interlockingly hold it. whereby the envelope is sealed.

2. A non-mucilage self-sealing envelope con'iprising a body having end and side flaps, said end flaps having heads equipped with side wings, one of said side flaps having a locking head, the other side flap being of a width corresponding to the width of the envelope body and having an extension foldable to form superposed layers on the inner face of said flap to form a pocket, said pocket having a slit in its bottom to receive the head on the other side flap, said extension carrying flap having transversely ar ranged registering slits in the folds and body of the flap to receive the heads of the end 3. A non-mucilage self-sealing envelope comprising a body having end and side flaps, said end flaps having heads equipped with side wings, one of said side flaps having a locking head, the other side being of a width corresponding to the width of the envelope body and having an extension foldable to form superposed layers on the inner face of said flap to form a pocket, said pocket having a slit in its bottom to receive the head on the other side flap, said extension carrying flap having transversely arranged registering slits in the folds and body of the flap to receive the heads of the endflaps, and an inturned lip carried by the extension of said side flap foldable inwardly over said heads.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence. of two witnesses.

PETER THOMAS GRIFFIN.

Witnesses:

EDMUND B. Wns'r, MARY B. WEST. 

